The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Catholic Church

  • Boko Haram membership thinning out, says Buhari

    Boko Haram membership thinning out, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja said the era of Boko Haram terrorism is gradually drawing to end, with the narrowing of the recruitment base of the insurgents, and renewed onslaught by the Nigerian Army.

    He made the remark while receiving the Letter of Credence of Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Nigeria, Most Rev. Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, at the State House.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina said the terrorist group had lost appeal in its initial strongholds, necessitating a steady retreat that will eventually culminate in ending the insurgency.

    “You can’t indoctrinate people who are below the age of 14 years and blow up churches, mosques, markets and you keep shouting God is great.

    “It is either you don’t know what you are saying, or you simply don’t care or believe what you are saying. It is part of our success story that Boko Haram is finding it more difficult to recruit people.

    “The Nigerian Army is also not making it easy for them to grow, with more intelligence, orientation and regular, measured onslaught on their camps,’’ he said.

    The President said the ongoing effort to dismember the terrorist group, and render it completely powerless will be intensified.

    President Buhari, who described the Catholic Church as a strong partner in the development of Nigeria, noted that the church had made very significant contributions to the development of the educational and health system of the country.

    On corruption, the President said the fight against the culture of pilfering public funds would be prolonged, and would require a new orientation by repositioning the entire educational system.

    “I am pleased that the African Union has spoken out boldly against corruption and appreciated the work that we are doing here,’’ President Buhari told the Archbishop.

    In his remarks, the Archbishop Filipazzi said the Holy Father, Pope Francis, had taken a keen interest on the fight against terrorism, corruption and reviving of the Nigerian economy.

    “Mr. President, the Holy Father, sends his warm greetings and he is keen to denounce corruption everywhere,’’ he added.

    The Apostolic Nuncio said he had travelled to the North East and was pleased with the efforts of the Nigerian Army in tackling the insurgents, and recovering some of the earlier lost grounds.

    President Buhari also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Niger to Nigeria, Mr. Alat Mogaskia and the High Commissioner of Ghana, Alhaji Rashid Bawa.

  • I’ve tremendous respect for Catholic Church – Bello

    I’ve tremendous respect for Catholic Church – Bello

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has expressed “tremendous respect for the Catholic Community”.

    He stated he will not do anything to disparage any religious organisation.

    The Governor stated this in Lokoja through his Director General of Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo.

    He said reports in the media that he disrespected the Catholic Community and its leaders were “another low by his detractors in their desperation to portray him as an irresponsible leader”.

    The governor said: “My statements to the press were well documented. I was critical of corrupt leaders, who have been disconnected from the looting pipes.

    ‘These are the leaders who are launching campaign of calumny against Mr. President.

    “These categories of leaders belong to different faith and may attempt to mislead highly respected religious leaders into joining their antagonism towards the anti-corruption crusade of Mr. President.

    “2019 is a year of determination for our nation and I have no regret leading the charge for the re-election of Mr. President who had given hope to the hopeless in the society.”

    Bello charged religious leaders to join the president’s fight against corruption, insisting that no good religion has a place for corruption and corrupt people.

    “The Catholic Church has done very well in promoting literacy and healthcare.

    “I am quite familiar with a good number of Catholic priests and I know their stance on the issue of corruption.

    “Every church and religion must fight corruption because corruption oppresses the poor and destroy justice and fairness,” he said.

    The governor urged the media to uphold the tenets of objective reportage in order to promote peace and security in the country.

     

  • I’ve tremendous respect for the Catholic Church – Gov. Bello

    I’ve tremendous respect for the Catholic Church – Gov. Bello

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has expressed “tremendous respect for the Catholic Community”, saying he will not do anything to disparage any religious organization.

    The Governor, who stated this in Lokoja through his Director General of Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said the reports in the media that he disrespected the Catholic Community and it’s leaders was “another low by his detractors in their desperation to portray him as an irresponsible leader”.

    “My statements to the Press were well documented. I was critical of corrupt leaders, who have been disconnected from the looting pipes.  These are the leaders who are launching campaign of calumny against Mr. President.

    “These categories of leaders belong to different faith and may attempt to mislead highly respected religious leaders into joining their antagonism towards the anti-corruption crusade of Mr. President. 2019 is a year of determination for our nation and I have no regret leading the charge for the re-election of Mr. President who had given hope to the hopeless in the society.”

    Governor Bello charged religious leaders to join the President’s fight against corruption, insisting that no good religion has a place for corruption and corrupt people.

    “The Catholic Church has done very well in promoting literacy and healthcare. I am quite familiar with a good number of Catholic Priests and I know their stance on the issue of corruption. Every church and religion must fight corruption because corruption oppresses the poor and destroy justice and fairness,” he said.

    The Governor urged the Media to uphold the tenets of objective reportage in order to promote peace and security in the country.

  • ‘Over N1b voted to rebuild first Catholic Church’

    More than a billion naira will be needed for the proposed rebuilding of first church/monastery in Nigeria, located at Ode-Itsekiri in Warri South Local Government of Delta State, The Nation has learnt.

    Addressing a news briefing at the weekend, Chairman of the Diocesan Committee on Planning and Implementation of the Reconstruction/Remodeling of Nigeria’s First Catholic Church/Monastery, Prince Godwin Emiko, its spokesperson, Chief Julie Coker and two members, Mrs. Francisca Tedeye and Mrs. Roli Croffie, said the first church in any part of Nigeria was St. Anthony Monastery, built by the Capuchins in 1690 and 1692 in Ode-Itsekiri.

    The committee said the Catholic Church had authorised the rebuilding of the monument and aimed to make the place a world-class religious tourist centre and ensure its recognition by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

    It said when completed, the project would create jobs for residents and boost evangelism started by the Capuchins and other European missionaries at Ode-Itsekiri. Prince Emiko said the monastery, which was first designed by a missionary, Rev. Pattazio of the Capuchins Order, was established after early European Missionaries, particularly the Capuchins and Augustinians from Portugal, Spain and Italy, visited Benin Kingdom in 1515 and came to Warri Kingdom in the 1570s.

    He said the project, which would be built on three acres donated to the Catholic Church Warri Diocese by the former Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, would gulp over a billion naira.

    “The monastery, which shall take the concept and stature of a typical Franciscan monastery, will accommodate a building for monks, nuns, a chapel, a three-storey guest house, a clinic, a museum, a parking lot, a massive compound and a farmland,” Emiko said.

    He said the fund raising for the project, which was approved by Dr. John Afareha, Bishop of Warri Diocese, in 2014, would be in three phases in April in Warri, August in Lagos and December in Abuja.

    Emiko added that fund would also be raised for the project in the United States of America (USA) and Europe.

    He appealed to Nigerians to donate towards the project.

  • I bear no grudges against Catholic Church – Ortom

    I bear no grudges against Catholic Church – Ortom

    There was uproar in Wanunue, the country home of Senator George Akume as a Catholic priest stopped Governor Samuel Ortom from addressing the congregation.

    The incident take place at St Christopher Catholic Church Wanune, during the Thanksgiving service to mark the 64th birthday of Senator Akume.

    But in a swift reaction Governor Samuel Ortom through his Chief Press Secretary Terver Akase said there was no cause for alarm as there was no rift between him and the Gboko Catholic Diocese, where the incident took place.

    Shorty after the homily, when the priest advised Senator Akume in his sermon, as the leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure that the governor pay workers’ salaries.

    After the sermon, Akume, at whose instance the mass was celebrated was allowed to speak, and he in turn invited the governor to react to the issue of non- payment of salaries which the priest raised in his sermon.

    Shortly after the Senator handed over the microphone to Governor Ortom, the priest in charge of church Fr. Ashwe informed the governor point blank that the doctrine of the Gboko Diocese of the Catholic Church does not allow politicians to speak in church after service except at reception venues.

    The governor simply complied even though there was uproar as worshippers who were mostly politicians hurriedly abandoned the service.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor later issued a statement to douse the tension between the Gboko Diocese and the governor among his supporters.

    The statement reads in part: “We have read various statements arising from the thanksgiving mass yesterday in honour of Senator George Akume at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church, Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area.

    “We wish to state that Governor Samuel Ortom understands and respects the decision of Gboko Catholic Diocese not to allow politicians to speak during masses and therefore would not have felt slighted when the Priest in Charge of the Wannune Parish did not permit him to speak during the mass in accordance with the decision of the Diocese.

    “We urge those amplifying the incident and making inflammatory statements for political reasons to sheathe their swords.”

     

  • Pope urges host nations, govts to welcome undocumented migrants

    Pope urges host nations, govts to welcome undocumented migrants

    Pope Francis on Monday urged host nations and governments to welcome undocumented migrants and also help more people fleeing poverty and conflict.

    The Argentinian pontiff, son of an Italian immigrant family, renewed his pro-migrant stance even as the U.S. and Europe are seeking to contain migrant inflows, sometimes linking this to anti-terrorism efforts.

    In a message in advance of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which the Catholic Church will observe on Jan. 14, Francis said we should “always prioritise [the] personal safety [of migrants] over national security.”

    There must be “alternative solutions to detention for those who enter a country without authorisation,” and governments should be “offering broader options for migrants and refugees to enter destination countries safely and legally,” the pope insisted.

    “This calls for a concrete commitment to increase and simplify the process for granting humanitarian visas and for reunifying families,” as well as “humanitarian corridors” for vulnerable refugees, the pope said.

    Newcomers must be offered “adequate and dignified initial accomodation,” guaranteed “freedom of religious belief and practice,” and helped to integrate, the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics added.

    “This process can be accelerated by granting citizenship free of financial or linguistic requirements, and by offering the possibility of special legalisation to migrants who can claim a long period of residence in the country of arrival,” the pope argued.

    Francis has often recalled that helping the destitute is a Christian duty, and, on Monday, he noted that, “when duly recognised and valued, the potential and skills of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees are a true resource for the communities that welcome them.”

    According to the International Organisation for Migration, there have been just under 3,500 migrant deaths since the start of the year, including 2,410 in the Mediterranean, 265 in North Africa and 245 on the US-Mexico border.

  • Gunmen strike in Anambra, kill worshippers in Church

    Gunmen strike in Anambra, kill worshippers in Church

    Gunmen on Sunday stormed the St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra.

    An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that the gunmen went into the church during the 5:45 a.m. mass and identified a particular man and shot him.

    He said that they later went on rampage and shot at the remaining worshippers numbering over 100.

    Scores of people were killed in the church while other critically injured worshippers died on the way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi.

    The source, however, said the priest of the church was not wounded in the incident.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Garba Umar, confirmed the incidence, adding that more details would be given after investigations. (NAN)

  • ‘Rejection of Ahiara bishop is disgrace to Catholic Church’

    A Catholic priest, Rev. Philip Jamang, has said the rejection of Bishop Peter Okpalaeke by some members of Ahiara Diocese at Mbaise in Imo State is a “disgrace” to the Catholic Church.

    Jamang, the Parish Priest of Church of Assumption at Chongo Pyel in Jos, the Plateau State apital, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was particularly wrong for some priests to support those against a Bishop appointed by the Pope.

    The cleric spoke yesterday in Jos.

    He said: “Their action is strange; it is an insult never heard of in the Catholic Church.”

    NAN reports that Ahiara Catholic Diocese has remained without a Bishop, more than four years after the death of its pioneer Bishop, Rev. Victor Chikwe, after the rejection of Okpalaeke, who was appointed and consecrated in 2012.

    Sources indicated that a section of Mbaise priests, supported by a segment of the laity, had remained opposed to Okpalaeke, citing clannish differences.

    In May, the Pope gave the Diocese a 30-day ultimatum to accept Okpalaeke and apologise over their unruly behaviour to him, or face sanctions.

    The ultimatum expired last month without compliance.

    Jamang, who was reacting to the lingering disagreement, said the action of the priests and the laity demeaned the Catholic Church and the sacred place of the Pontiff.

    He said: “The Catholic Church is a united entity known for sanity and dignity. If today some sections of the church, including priests in Ahiara, are rejecting a Bishop on the basis of clan, then something is really wrong.

    “Most of the Bishops are not natives of Dioceses where they serve. Bishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos, for instance, is from Jalingo in Taraba State. Bishop Mathew Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese is from Kaduna State.”

     

     

  • Family battles Bishop, Catholic Church over will

    The family of late Chief A.O Ezeoke of Nkpologwu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor and the Catholic Church are at daggers drawn over late Ezeoke’s will.

    As a result, the family has petitioned Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Anthonio Guido Filipezzi, over the matter.

    The petition was signed by the first son of the family, Dr. Ezeoke Sylvester, on behalf of his other siblings and equally copied to their monarch and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

    They are asking the Bishop and Rev Fr Dr. Chukwujekwu Obiora, who is the Catholic lawyer also, to hand over their father’s property and documents to them which were kept in their custody.

    They further alleged that the Bishop and his agent, Rev Obiora, had been using thugs, assassins to threaten their lives, praying that they should stop using their positions in authority to trample on others.

    Furthermore, they are contending that the Bishop and Obiora should leave their father’s companies, Almart and Company Ltd and Nkpologwu Aguata Commercial Ltd alone and to stop harassing their tenants and threatening them with police, among others.

    Reacting yesterday on behalf of the Bishop, the church and himself, Rev Dr Chukwujekwu Obiora said they were not going to talk on the issue because it was in court.

    “The Ezeoke’s will case is in court, adding that he would not talk on it.

    “Go and tell them that the matter is in court, the people that addressed you are two out of the 11 children of late Chief Ezeoke, asked them where others are?”

    But counsel to the Ezeoke family, Emeka Ugezu, said yesterday that there was no law that allows an executor who had not been granted probate to enter into the property of the will.

    “If the executors have not been granted probate, they have no legal right to execute,” Ugezu said.

  • Lalong, Tambuwal laud Catholic Church for its contributions to national development

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau and Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State have commended the Catholic Church for its contributions to the religious, educational, medical and infrastructure development of Nigeria.

    The governors made the commendations on Thursday at the 50th anniversary celebration of St. Augustine Major Seminary, Jos.

    Lalong said that the impact of the church on the lives of Nigerians could not be quantified.

    He said that Plateau was blessed with numerous Christian institutions that had accounted for the training, character and spiritual formation of many citizens of the state.

    “The 50 years of existence of St. Augustine’s Major Seminary is no doubt worthy of celebration.

    “For a school that has produced 20 bishops and scores of priests, religious and laity that are in the service of the Lord at home and abroad, it is indeed worthy of our attention and support.

    “This seminary remains a real asset to the universal Church because as a spiritual hob for the training of ministers of the gospel, it is a vehicle through which ministers are thoroughly prepared to holistically address the spiritual and physical well- being of Nigerians in the Catholic Church and beyond,” he said.

    Gov Tambuwal also highlighted the contributions of the Church and promised to work with other state governors and friends to support the seminary, particularly in the rehabilitation of its infrastructure.

    He said that the seminary had contributed significantly to character moulding and morality.

    “We appreciate the contribution of this great institution and we pray God Almighty to strengthen the leadership and membership so that they will continue deliver on the good deeds.

    “I commend the Catholic Church for its contributions to the development of this country as the history of the development of Nigeria will not be complete without a chapter dedicated to the Church.

    “I am aware not only of the age of the institution but the ageing infrastructure, and we (governors) have agreed to contact our friends to assist the seminary handsomely,” he said.

    The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Mathew Kukah, in an address, said that the Church had many priests working outside Nigeria and promoting the image of the country.

    Kukah said that there were more than 1,500 priests and nuns  working and promoting the image of Nigeria abroad, including in places that Nigeria had yet to establish diplomatic missions.

    The bishop said that the Church had been involved in human capital development even before the emergence of the country  and urged the Federal Government to take the Catholic Church serious for its contributions to national development.